Device and method for unattended treatment of a patient

Abstract

An unattended approach can increase the reproducibility and safety of the treatment as the chance of over/under treating of a certain area is significantly decreased. On the other hand, unattended treatment of uneven or rugged areas can be challenging in terms of maintaining proper distance or contact with the treated tissue, mostly on areas which tend to differ from patient to patient (e.g. facial area). Delivering energy via a system of active elements embedded in a flexible pad adhesively attached to the skin offers a possible solution. The unattended approach may include delivering of multiple energies to enhance a visual appearance.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for a treatment of a patient, comprising:
 a first generator configured to generate an electromagnetic energy; 
 a second generator configured to generate an electric current; 
 a pad having a surface area in a range of 0.1 cm 2  to 150 cm 2  and configured to be attached to a body part of the patient, the pad comprising:
 a substrate comprising an underside configured to face the patient during the treatment; 
 a conductive lead; and 
 an electrode having a surface area in a range of 1 cm 2  to 25 cm 2 , coupled to the underside of the substrate, and coupled to the first generator and second generator via the conductive lead; and 
 
 a control unit configured to control the first generator and the second generator, 
 wherein the electrode is configured to be coupled with the body part during the treatment, and 
 wherein the electrode is configured to provide the electromagnetic energy to the body part, thereby causing heating of skin of the body part, and is configured to provide the electric current to the body part, thereby causing contractions of a muscle within the body part. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive disposed on an underside of the pad,
 wherein the electrode is coupled to the adhesive, 
 wherein the electrode is configured to be coupled with the body part via the adhesive, and 
 wherein the pad is configured to be fixedly attached to the body part by the adhesive. 
 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2 , wherein the electrode is partially in contact with the adhesive, and wherein the adhesive is conductive. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 2 , wherein the adhesive comprises an adhesive tape or a mixture containing water, and wherein the adhesive has an electric conductivity in a range of 20 mS/m to 200 mS/m. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 2 , wherein the adhesive has an impedance in a range of 100 Ohms to 5000 Ohms given an alternating current at a frequency of 1 kHz. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 2 , wherein a thickness of the pad is in a range of 0.01 mm to 15 mm and the surface area of the pad is in a range of 0.5 cm 2  to 100 cm 2 . 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 6 , further comprising a dielectric layer between the conductive lead and the electrode,
 wherein the conductive lead is coupled to the underside of the substrate, and 
 wherein the conductive lead is connected to the electrode through a hole in the dielectric layer. 
 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 7 , wherein the conductive lead is positioned between the underside of the substrate and the dielectric layer, and
 wherein the electrode is deposited on the dielectric layer. 
 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the electrode is printed on the dielectric layer by a silver ink, a silver-chloride ink, or a graphite ink. 
     
     
       10. A device for a treatment of a patient, comprising:
 a generator configured to generate a radiofrequency energy; 
 a flexible pad, comprising:
 a flexible substrate comprising an underside configured to face the patient during the treatment; 
 a plurality of electrodes, each having a surface area in a range of 1 cm 2  to 25 cm 2 ; 
 a conductive lead; and 
 an adhesive, 
 
 wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises a radiofrequency electrode and an electrotherapy electrode, 
 wherein a top side of each of the plurality of electrodes is coupled to the underside of the flexible substrate, 
 wherein the flexible pad is configured to be attached to a body part of the patient by the adhesive, 
 wherein the plurality of electrodes is configured to be in contact with the body part through the adhesive, 
 wherein each of the plurality of electrodes is partially embedded in the adhesive such that the top side of each of the plurality of electrodes is not covered by the adhesive, 
 wherein the radiofrequency electrode is coupled to the generator via the conductive lead and is configured to provide the radiofrequency energy to the body part, thereby causing heating of the body part, and 
 wherein the electrotherapy electrode is configured to provide an electric current to the body part, thereby causing a stimulation of a muscle within the body part; and 
 a control unit configured to control the radiofrequency energy and the electric current. 
 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 10 , wherein a distance between two neighboring electrodes from the plurality of electrodes is in a range of 0.7 mm to 30 mm. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible pad is configured to be attached to a forehead of the patient, and
 wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises a left edge electrode positioned along a left edge of the flexible pad, a right edge electrode positioned along a right edge of the flexible pad, and a middle electrode positioned between the left edge electrode and the right edge electrode. 
 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 12 , wherein a distance between the left edge electrode and the right edge electrode is in a range of 2 cm to 8 cm. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 12 , wherein the middle electrode is the radiofrequency electrode. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible pad is configured to be attached to a left or a right cheek of the patient,
 wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises a first line of electrodes and a second line of electrodes, and 
 wherein the plurality of electrodes is configured to cause the stimulation of the muscle comprising a contraction of at least one of Buccinator, Risorius, Zygomaticus, Masseter, Platysma, Depressor, or Lavator labii superioris muscle. 
 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the first line of electrodes is symmetrical to the second line of electrodes about a line of symmetry. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible pad is configured to be attached to a submentum of the patient,
 wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises 3 to 10 electrodes, and 
 wherein the muscle stimulation caused by the electrotherapy electrode comprises a contraction of muscles within a submental or submandibular triangle. 
 
     
     
       18. A device for a treatment of a patient, comprising:
 a first generator configured to generate a radiofrequency energy with an output power in a range of 1 W to 200 W; 
 a second generator configured to generate an electric current; 
 a pad configured to be attached to a body part of the patient, comprising:
 a substrate, comprising:
 a first segment 
 a second segment 
 a slot partially separating the first segment from the second segment, 
 
 wherein the first segment is configured to move at least partially independently from the second segment; and
 an underside configured to face the patient during the treatment; 
 
 a first conductive lead; 
 a second conductive lead; 
 a first electrode positioned below the underside of the first segment of the substrate and coupled to the first generator via the first conductive lead, the first electrode configured to:
 be coupled with the body part, and 
 provide the radiofrequency energy to the body part, thereby causing heating of the body part; and 
 
 a second electrode positioned below the underside of the second segment of the substrate and coupled to the second generator via the second conductive lead, the second electrode configured to:
 be coupled with the body part, and 
 provide the electric current to the body part, thereby causing a muscle contraction within the body part; and 
 
 
 a control unit configured to control the first generator and the second generator, 
 wherein the body part comprises a face, a neck, or a submentum. 
 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 18 , wherein the pad further comprises an adhesive positioned below an underside of the pad,
 wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are coupled to the adhesive, and 
 wherein the pad is fixedly attached to the body part by the adhesive. 
 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 19 , wherein the adhesive has an electric conductivity in a range of 20 mS/m to 200 mS/m. 
     
     
       21. The device of  claim 19 , further comprising a sticker attached on a top side of the pad,
 wherein the sticker overlaps the pad and has a dimension exceeding a corresponding dimension of the pad in a range of 0.1 cm to 7 cm, and 
 wherein a portion of the sticker exceeding the pad dimension comprises a sticking layer configured to provide additional fixation of the pad to the body part. 
 
     
     
       22. The device of  claim 19 , wherein the pad further comprises a dielectric layer comprising a first hole and a second hole,
 wherein the first and the second conductive lead is coupled to the underside of the substrate, 
 wherein the dielectric layer is positioned between the first conductive lead and the first electrode and between the second conductive lead and the second electrode, and 
 wherein the first conductive lead is connected with the first electrode via the first hole and the second conductive lead is connected with the second electrode via the second hole. 
 
     
     
       23. The device of  claim 19 , wherein an underside of the adhesive configured to face the patient is covered by a liner configured to be removed before the treatment. 
     
     
       24. The device of  claim 18 , wherein a width of the slot is in a range of 100 μm to 10 mm. 
     
     
       25. A device for a treatment of a patient, comprising:
 a radiofrequency generator configured to generate a radiofrequency energy; 
 a pad, comprising:
 a flexible substrate; 
 a conductive lead; 
 an adhesive; and 
 an electrode, comprising:
 apertures; 
 grid lines separated by the apertures; and 
 a frame defining the border of the grid lines and the apertures, 
 wherein the frame and the grid lines are made of a conductive material, 
 
 
 wherein the electrode is positioned below the flexible substrate and is coupled to the radiofrequency generator by the conductive lead, 
 wherein the electrode is coupled in the adhesive and configured to be in contact with a body part of the patient through the adhesive, 
 wherein the electrode is configured to provide a radiofrequency energy to the body part, thereby causing heating of a skin of the body part, 
 wherein the electrode is configured to provide an electric current to the body part, thereby causing a muscle stimulation within the body part, and 
 wherein the body part comprises one of a face, a neck, or a submentum; and 
 a control unit configured to control the radiofrequency energy and the electric current. 
 
     
     
       26. The device of  claim 25 , wherein the electrode comprises an aperture, and wherein the aperture has an aperture width in a range of 0.05 mm to 7 mm. 
     
     
       27. The device of  claim 25 , wherein a thickness of the frame is in a range of 0.1 mm to 5 mm. 
     
     
       28. The device of  claim 25 , wherein a thickness of the grid lines is in a range of 0.01 mm to 2.3 mm. 
     
     
       29. The device of  claim 25 , wherein a total surface area of the frame, the grid lines inside the frame, and the apertures inside the frame is in a range of 1 cm 2  to 15 cm 2 . 
     
     
       30. The device of  claim 25 , wherein a ratio of the conductive material to the apertures of the electrode is in a range of 1% to 50%.